Taiwan briefly slows its mobile internet to text-only speed as part of defense drill

People take cover inside at a MRT station during the Urban Resilience (Air-Defense) Exercise, part of the annual Han Kuang military exercises in Taipei, Taiwan, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026. Chiang Ying-ying/AP Photo. For 30 minutes, the internet in parts of Taiwan crawled to 256 Kbps, making it difficult to exchange anything other than texts. This slowdown was part of the last phase of the island's annual Han Kuang exercises, military drills that began last week and aim to model a response to a possible Chinese military invasion. Telecommunication operators intentionally reduced mobile web traffic to 256 Kbps. Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te apologized to the public for the inconvenience caused by the drill, stating, “We ask for your understanding and support, as this is a necessary drill.” The exercises have stepped up intensity, incorporating reservists and more civilians, with a focus on real-world scenarios. Previously, urban resilience drills in Taipei went largely unnoticed because they were not disruptive. This year, integrating civilians and coordinating with local governments was a key part of the exercises, according to the Taipei Times. At a Taipei metro station, passengers waited 30 minutes to be released after the station's gates were shut for the simulation as part of air raid drills. Allen Hsieh, a tourist from Hong Kong, found the exercises convincing. He said, “The exercise did not cause me any inconvenience. I know that Taiwan needs to conduct exercises, given the current situation. I can understand that. I did not expect it to be so real. I thought I would only receive text messages.” Lai also visited a hospital, which simulated relocating critical operations to underground facilities as part of the drills. Taiwan is ramping up its defense exercises and purchases in response to heightened tensions with China, which claims Taiwan as its own. China frequently sends military planes and Coast Guard ships toward Taiwan and conducts large-scale military exercises. Between Wednesday and Thursday morning, 18 Chinese warplanes and 11 navy ships operated around Taiwan, according to the island's Defense Ministry.